Churches Action Relief and Development (CARD) says a media fully knowledgeable on advocacy has the potential to accelerate development in the country.
Speaking in Liwonde on Tuesday during a media orientation on Voice Up project Card deputy programme manager Lameck Nkhoma said there are many issues in the community which if unearthed would draw attention of duty-bearers as well as the donor community.
“With funding from Action Churches Together (ACT) Alliance Ubumbano we are implementing the project in Balaka and Dowa as a platform for community activists to share stories, resources and information. It is one of the outcomes of a process of critical reflection on social justice work by organisations in the region.
“We are engaging district journalists to help in amplifying issues that affect communities which need urgent attention and response. We are creating a collaboration to share stories of diverse nature which will form genesis for different community projects,” Nkhoma said.
One of the journalists Chrispine Msiska of Zodiak said the orientation is an eye-opener in how the media can help change the humanitarian and development narrative in the community.
“We are the right people to amplify issues affecting the community. Our stories should make a difference in the lives of the poor and vulnerable people,” he said.
One of the Voice App facilitators and specialists Matthews Msiska said churches and church-related organisations engaged in humanitarian, development and advocacy work in the world would like to respond to communities’ problems.
“Basically churches and church-related members work together in over 120 countries. The aim is to create positive and sustainable change in the lives of poor and marginalised people regardless of religion, politics, gender, sexual orientation, race or nationality in keeping with the highest international codes and standards,” he said.
ACT Alliance is a global alliance of more than 145 churches and related organisations from over 120 countries that provide humanitarian aid for poor and marginalized people.
